saheli women

the dhora collection SS24

Saheli Women is a social enterprise empowering women in rural Rajasthan through slow fashion. By providing skills development and creating sustainable, meaningful jobs, Saheli Women helps to financially liberate women and preserve traditional crafts.

In 2023, I moved to Jodhpur for 6 months to work with them as the Centre Manager; a contact point for our international clients and their production. We decided to work on Saheli Women’s first ever namesake brand, and I collaborated with the team to design the Dhora Collection, which we launched in London in July 2024.

Committed to equality, sustainability, and transparency, Saheli Women is fostering radical change by amplifying the voices and skills of women at the heart of the global fashion value chain. these women are true trailblazers.

  • Handloom Cotton Dress

  • Naturally Dyed Silk Top, Ikat Trousers

  • Naturally Dyed Silk Top, Handloom Cotton Trousers

  • Naturally Dyed Silk Blouse, Handloom Cotton Skirt

  • Naturally Dyed Silk Top, Handloom Trousers

  • Naturally Dyed Silk Dress

the team

Madhu Vaishnav, Founder and Director of Saheli Women

The Saheli Women Collective

Pari Pari Studio, Mumbai based Fashion Designer

Katie Christie, On-site Manager from June to December 2023, Fashion Design Manager

Sacha Daly, On-site Manager from Jan to May 2024, Marketing Manager

Ciara Knight, On-site Manager from Jan to May 2023, Business Development Manager

Louisa Wates, On-site Business Development Intern Jan to March 2024

Model Instagram: @__4ry4___

Photographer: @palakrungta_

The Dhora Collection Launch Party

thurs 20/06/24

The team collaborated with Ardour, a platform designed to celebrate and empower the women creators of India. We had an incredible party to celebrate Saheli Women’s milestone first collection, at Wild by Tart, London, followed by a week long pop-up selling the garments. I designed the event invitations, and my original fashion illustrations of the final collection where displayed, as well as printed in the collection development book. As a team, we developed a guestlist of celebrities, academics, designers, students, and content creators who came along to support us, a playlist, as well as the visual design and catering plan.

John Lewis christmas collection

nov 2023 + dec 2023

before returning home from India, I organised a Christmas pop-up at John Lewis edinburgh for Saheli Women, selling a limited run of pyjamas, stockings, and gifts made from second-hand saris and handwoven cotton. with Madhu and our textiles intern Charlotte, I sourced the saris on a trip to Pushkar and worked closely with our in-house pattern cutter and weaving team to design the collection and choose the colour palette. in collaboration with ciara, our business development manager who was living in the uk, we handled everything from applying to the John Lewis space and setting up payments, to photoshoots, packaging and label design, and all the marketing and social media around the launch.

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